San Diego expecting mild weather throughout Labor Day weekend

Two women walk at Torrey Pines State Beach on Thursday, where temperatures remained a bit warmer than average.

Two women walk at Torrey Pines State Beach on Thursday, where temperatures remained a bit warmer than average. (Gary Robbins/Union-Tribune)

Gary Robbins

After experiencing the hottest August on record, San Diego will enjoy a comparatively mild Labor Day weekend, with temperatures rising only two to three degrees above average through Monday.

The National Weather Service says that temperatures also will be reasonably comfortable across inland valleys and foothills. Ramona — which sizzled during much of August — will have daytime highs in the mid-80s.

Monsoon moisture isn’t expected to flow into the county from Mexico, which will help reduce the risk of wildfires.

The most dramatic change will occur in the ocean, where sea surface temperatures have been declining steadily after reaching phenomenal heights just weeks ago.

At 1 p.m. on Friday, the ocean temperature at Solana Beach was 69 degrees — 12 degrees cooler than it was on August 11th. It was 72 at Mission Beach, which reached the upper 70s not long ago.

The surf is dropping at the same time ocean temperatures are going down. Forecasters say waves will be in the 2-foot to 3-foot range at the favored breaks on Saturday. But waves will generally be in the 1-foot to 2-foot for the remainder of the holiday weekend.

Snorkeling conditions should be good at La Jolla Cove, especially on Sunday and Monday. Winds will be light, particularly on Monday.

The weather service said it appeared that San Diego would not fall below 70 degrees through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, which would mean that the temperature never dropped below 70 during the entire month of August.

Forecasters estimated that San Diego’s average temperature for August would turn out to be about 78.2 degrees, breaking the previous record of 77.4 degrees, set in 1983. It’s possible that the temperature will be 70 or higher throughout Saturday.

But forecasters say that the late night and early morning marine layer is likely to become fairly thick during the holiday weekend, which could drop overnight temperatures into the upper 60s.

There is no significant rain in the short-term forecast. Since October 1, San Diego International Airport has recorded 3.25 inches or rain, which is 7.75 inches below average.